Portable electric tube light

ABSTRACT

Dry cell batteries or battery forming materials are contained within end portions of an elongated tubular housing. The housing includes an elongated side window situated axially between the batteries. A reflector is provided along the inner wall of said tubing towards the window. A light bulb extending coaxially with the tube is positioned between the reflector and the window. The light may be secured to a support placing it generally above the writing portion of a clipboard or the like, and may be provided with a member extending from the support over the window region of the light, to serve as both a shield and a reflector for the light.

United States Patent 1 4 Davis.

[11] 3,826,910 451 July 30,1974

[ PORTABLE ELECTRIC TUBE LIGHT [76] Inventor: Robert H. Davis, 1903322nd Ave.

I N.W., Seattle, Wash. 98177 22 Filed: June 7, 1971' 211 Appl. No.;150,569

521 US. Cl. 240/6.4 B, 240/1066 51] Int. Cl. F2lv 33/00 4 [581 Field ofSearch 240/6.4 B, 2 P, 10.66

[56] References Cited v UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,145,848 7/l9l5 Robins240/6.4 B 1,456,927 5/1923 Kumpf 240/6.4 B 2,009,952 7/1935 Beaumont.240/l0.66 2,029,425 2/1936 Kaylol' et al 240/6.4 B 2,377,538 6/1945Cohen 240/6.4 B 3,046,389 7/1962 Ca'telli et'alu 240/6.4 B X 3,092,3356/1963 Wilso'n 240/6.4 B 3,381,122 4/1968 Boyle, Jr. 240/6.4 B

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser Assistant Examiner-Joseph W. RoskosAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Graybeal, Bernard, Uhler & Hughes [57] ABSTRACTDry cell batteries or battery forming materials are contained within endportions of an elongated tubular housing. The housing includes anelongated side window situated axially between the batteries. Areflector is provided along the inner wall of said tubing towards thewindow. A light bulb extending coaxially with the tube is positionedbetween the reflector and the window. The light may be secured to asupport placing it 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 01974 3. 826. 91 O awn r02 ROBERT M D/l W5 ATTOF/VEVS 1 PORTABLE ELECTRIC TUBE LIGHTBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to portable electric lights, and in particular to a relativelysmall battery powered tubular electric light adapted to project lightlaterally of the tube, and to a combination of such a light and a noveltype of clipboard.

2; Description of the Prior Art It is recognized that a very largenumber of portable battery powered electric lights are and for some timehave been readily available on the market. Some are provided for generaluse and others are adapted for special use. They all comprise a housingfor one or more dry cell batteries, a light bulb powered by thebatteries, a reflector for the light, and control circuitry including anoff-on switch. The differences amongst these prior lights involve therelative arrangement of parts. and constructional details.

- Examples of known battery powered lights associated SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION Portable electric lights of this invention are characterizedby an elongated, slim tubular body divided axially into three'sections.The center section includes an elongated side port or window which isnearly semicylindrical. The remaining center portion of .the tubularbody carries a reflector arranged to reflect light through the window.The two end sections carry batteries or battery forming material and alight bulb projects from one of the end sections into the centersection. A control switch is located at one end of the tube. The switchis a part of a control circuit which in the preferred embodimentincludes a metallic member situated in the center section whichfunctions as a reflector for the lgiht, a conductor of the electricalcurrent, a holder for the light bulb and a contact for the batteries atthe end of said member opposite the bulb.

The present invention also relates to a novel style of clipboard intowhich one of the portable lights of the invention is incorporated.

These and other features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanyingdrawing relating thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an isometric view lookingfrom above and toward one side and one end of an embodiment of theportable light of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view taken from the same aspect, but showing thelight in combination with a clipboard, such combination being novel andan aspect of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the clipboard;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the portable light, with someparts shown in side elevation;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially Referring first toFIGS. 1 and 4-6, the light is shown to comprise a tubular body 10 havinga generally semicylindrical window 12 cut in its side intermediate itsends. A pair of batteries 14 are'located inside the housing 10, oneendwise outwardly of each end of the window 12. A removable closureelement 16 is provided at one end of the housing 10. By way of typicaland therefore nonlimitive example, this element 16 may be in the form ofa plug having external threads 18 matable with a set of internal threads20 formed in the end portion of the housing 10. A slot 22 may beprovided-in the outer end of plug 16 for receiving a dime, screwdriver,

etc.

In the illustrated embodiment a coil spring .24 is shown between theinner end of member 16 and the positive terminal 26 of the near battery14. The opposite end of such battery is in contact with a formed endportion 28 of a metallic reflector member 30. The opposite end portion32 of reflector member 30 is formed into a set of threads for receivingthe screw base 34'of a flashlight bulb 36. Intermediate its ends thereflector member 30 includes a generally semicylindrical side wall andpresents a polished reflector surface directed toward the window 12. Thebulb 36 is generally coaxially related to the reflector member 30 andthe tubel0.

.The contactor button 38 at the end of bulb 36 is in contact with thepositive end 40 of the second battery 14, The base end of this battery14 makes contact with a first terminal 42 of a switch mechanism 44. Thesecond contact (not shown) of the switch 44 is in contact with thetubing 10, if the tubing-l0 is metallic, or with a conductor which leadstherefrom down to the metallic cap 16 if a non-metallic tube is used.The switch mechanism 14 includes a rotatable or push button type controlknob 46, or the like, for selectively making and breaking contactbetween the two conductors. The batteries 14 are conventionaloff-the-shelf items and they come with insulative jackets on them. Thereflector member 30 is supported by a member 48 made from an insulativematerial so that it holds the metallic reflector element 30 outwardlyfrom the metallic tubing wall 10.

It is to be understood that most of the constructional details of thelight of this invention can vary in detail to a considerable extentwithout departing from the invention. For example, an entirely difierenttype of end closure member could be substituted for the member 16, andthe spring could be located elsewhere in the series of members, and itcould just as well take a different form. Also, a different type ofswitch might be employed. One end of the tube might be permanentlyclosed and the switch incorporated in a removable end closure member forthe opposite end. Also, the light may be constructed to be a throw awayunit in which the batteries are permanently located within the housing10, e.g. the housing 10 may constitute the side walls of the batteries.Furthermore, the reflector surface may be a non-metallic surface (e.g.polished plastic), in which case the reflector member would not be apart of the circuit, but rather would be replaced by a conductorbridging through the region-of the reflector 30.

According to the invention, the light may be advantageously employed-asa built-in light for a clipboard 50 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The clipboard maycomprise a flat panel 52 of rectangular portions having a spring clip 54of conventional design connected to it, for clamping one or more sheetsor a pad of paper against the panel 52. The upper end portion 56 ofpanel 52 may be bent first back at an acute angle to the panel 52 tofunction as a support for the light unit, and then be wrapped (at 60) atleast partially around the light housing for holding the light unit.This upper end portion 58, 60 of the panel material is cut out at 62 andin the region of the light window 12. The cut out 62 provides access tothe control lever 64 of the clamp 54. The end sections of the light 10are snugly received within the cylindrical chambers formed by the twowrapped (at 60) end parts of the panel 52. A shield 66, which alsoperforms a reflecting function, issecured to the sheet metal 60 in theregion of the window 12. It may be of dihedral form, having a firstportion 68 which is connected to the support 58 and a second portion 70which overhangs the window region and functions as both a shield and areflector for the light.

Of course, it is to be recognized that the light L has general utilityand can be used in many other installations. For example, it may beattached in a forward upper corner portion of an attache case 72 (FIG.7), an overnight bag, or another piece of luggage, with its window l2oriented so that the light is directed downwardly into the case 72 whenits cover is lifted. Or, the light L may be provided with a clip orother connector device for securing it to the visor of an automobile.These are two examples of many possible additional uses of the lightofthis invention.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. An elongated, slim portable electric light comprismg:

an elongated cylindrical tubular body having two opposite end sectionscontaining small diameter battery means and a light section locatedbetween said end sections, with the transverse dimension of said bodybeing small and being close in diameter to the diameter of said batterymeans, said light section comprising an elongated side window in theside wall of said tubular body, said side window being a generallysemicylindrical cut out of an intermediate side wall portion of thebody, an elongated reflector generally conforming to the interiorcontour of the tubular wall remaining in said light section, saidreflector being generally coextensive with the remaining portion of thetubular body in said light section of the body, a light bulb supportedat one end of said reflector, extending generally coaxially with saidtube and overlying said reflector, with a relatively small spaceexisting between the bulb and said reflector;

an off-on switch located at one end of the tubular body, endwiseoutwardly of one of the battery means containing end sections of thebody, said switch having two terminals; and

circuit means connecting said bulb and said switch in series with saidbattery means, including means for receiving and holding the contactbutton on the light bulb in direct circuit making contact with aterminal of the battery means in one of the end sections, meansextending through the light section and connecting a terminal of thebattery means in the other section to the base of the light bulb, andmeans-connecting thesecond terminals of the two battery means with theterminals of the switch.

2. A portable electric light according to claim 1,

wherein said reflector is a side wall portion of a metallic member whichincludes opposite end portions, with one of said end portions beingadapted to receive and hold a base portion of the light bulb with thebase end thereof against a terminal of one of said battery means, andwherein the opposite end portion of said reflector includes contactmeans for engaging a terminal of the other battery means. I

3. A portable electric light according to claim 2, further comprising aninsulative support for said reflector, said support having a curved sidewall generally conforming to the interior curvature of the tubular bodyat the light section, and opposite end walls, said end walls includingopenings therein for respectively receiving the bulb support and thecontact portion.

4. In combination, a clipboard comprising a flat panel providing awriting paper supporting surface, a clip at one end of said panel foruse in clamping writing paper against said surface, and a light supportextending upwardly from said panel and over a portion of the writingpaper supporting surface, said light support means comprises acontinuous integral portion of the writing paper supporting panel whichis dihedrally related to said panel, and is centrally open generallywhere it meets said panel, and said paper clamp including a controllever portion projecting into said open region, an elongated lightsecured to said support, said light comprising an elongated tubular bodydirected transversely of the clip board, said light having two oppositeend sections containing battery means and a light section locatedbetween said end sections, said light section comprising a side windowin the side wall of said tubular body directed generally toward thewriting paper supporting surface of the panel, a reflector generallyconforming to the interior contour of the tube wall remaining in saidlight section, and a light bulb supported at one end of said reflectorgenerally coaxially with said tube, an off-on switch, and circuit meansconnecting said bulb and said switch in series with said battery means.I

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the switch is located at one endof the tubular body, endwise outwardly of one of the battery meanscontaining end sections of the body.

6. The combination of claim 4, further comprising a combination shieldand reflector secured to said support and extending over the lightsection and overhang- 3,826,910 6 ing a portion of the paper supportingsurface of the outwardly ,of said centrally open part, said end partspanel. being formed into two cylindrical coaxial chambers in 7.. Thecombination of claim 4, wherein saidlight which the end sections of saidlight are snugly received. support means includes spaced apart end partssituated

1. An elongated, slim portable electric light comprising: an elongatedcylindrical tubular body having two opposite end sections containingsmall diameter battery means and a light section located between saidend sections, with the transverse dimension of said body being small andbeing close in diameter to the diameter of said battery means, saidlight section comprising an elongated side window in the side wall ofsaid tubular body, said side window being a generally semicylindricalcut out of an intermediate side wall portion of the body, an elongatedreflector generally conforming to the interior contour of the tubularwall remaining in said light section, said reflector being generallycoextensive with the remaining portion of the tubular body in said lightsection of the body, a light bulb supported at one end of saidreflector, extending generally coaxially with said tube and overlyingsaid reflector, with a relatively small space existing between the bulband said reflector; an off-on switch located at one end of the tubularbody, endwise outwardly of one of the battery means containing endsections of the body, said switch having two terminals; and circuitmeans connecting said bulb and said switch in series with said batterymeans, including means for receiving and holding the contact button onthe light bulb in direct circuit making contact with a terminal of thebattery means in one of the end sections, means extending through thelight section and connecting a terminal of the battery means in theother section to the base of the light bulb, and means connecting thesecond terminals of the two battery means with the terminals of theswitch.
 2. A portable electric light according to claim 1, wherein saidreflector is a side wall portion of a metallic member which includesopposite end portions, with one of said end portions being adapted toreceive and hold a base portion of the light bulb with the base endthereof against a terminal of one of said battery means, and wherein theopposite end portion of said reflector includes contact means forengaging a terminal of the other battery means.
 3. A portable electriclight according to claim 2, further comprising an insulative support forsaid reflector, said support having a curved side wall generallyconforming to the interior curvature of the tubular body at the lightsection, and opposite end walls, said end walls including openingstherein for respectively receiving the bulb support and the contactportion.
 4. In combination, a clipboard comprising a flat panelproviding a writing paper supporting surface, a clip at one end of saidpanel for use in clamping writing paper against said surface, and alight support extending upwardly from said panel and over a portion ofthe writing paper supporting surface, said light support means comprisesa continuous integral portion of the writing paper supporting panelwhich is dihedrally related to said panel, and is centrally opengenerally where it meets said panel, and said paper clamp including acontrol lever portion projecting into said open region, an elongatedlight secured to said support, said light comprising an elongatedtubular body directed transversely of the clip board, said light havingtwo opposite end sections containing battery means and a light sectionlocated between said end sections, said light section comprising a sidewindow in the side wall of said tubular body directed generally towardthe writing paper supporting surface of the panel, a reflector generallyconforming to the interior contour of the tube wall remaining in saidlight section, and a light bulb supported at one end of said reflectorgenerally coaxially with said tube, an off-on switch, and circuit meansconnecting said bulb and said switch in series with said battery means.5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the switch is located at one endof the tubular body, endwise outwardly of one of the battery meanscontaining end sections of the body.
 6. The combination of claim 4,further comprising a combination shield and reflector secured to saidsupport and extending over the light section and overhanging a portionof the paper supporting surface of the panel.
 7. The combination ofclaim 4, wherein said light support means includes spaced apart endparts situated outwardly of said centrally open part, said end partsbeing formed into two cylindrical coaxial chambers in which the endsections of said light are snugly received.